Men's Ice Hockey

Things to Do as a Hockey Recruit

Recruits for men’s college hockey need to know that hockey scholarships are very limited and can be hard to earn. But NCSA can help make sure that you do every little thing that you can to separate yourself from other hockey recruits.

1.Develop your game plan and get evaluated by a third party. Recruiting for hockey is a little different than it is for more common sports like football or basketball. College hockey coaches don’t always have the budgets to travel and see a lot of hockey recruits in person, so they rely on evaluations from a trusted source like NCSA. And because NCSA is a neutral third party, we provide honest answers about your skill level, which helps you set realistic goals about where you want to play college hockey.

2. Post your academic/athletic resume online. NCSA has the largest digital platform available to high school athletes. When a hockey recruit posts a highlight video and resume online, it becomes instantly visible to hundreds of college hockey coaches.

3. Create a winning highlight/skills video. College hockey coaches may not be able to frequently travel and see hockey recruits in person, and that’s why a highlight/skills video is essential. Use between 15 and 40 highlights (about three minutes worth) from game footage that show you’ve got the skills for your position. Make sure you film most of the ice so that it’s easy to see how you move and position yourself without the puck.

Defensemen should highlight:

The ability to break up plays in the defensive zone.

Starting offensive rushes and taking shots from the blue line.

General puck handling, passing and skating ability.

Forwards should highlight:

The ability to get up the ice and create shots.

Shots from different angles and distances.

General puck handling, passing and skating ability.

Goalies should highlight:

A mix of skills footage and game footage.

The ability to stop shots at all areas of the goal.

Handling the puck in the crease and in traffic.

4. Contact up to 50 realistic hockey programs. Fewer than 500 colleges have a men’s hockey program, and nearly 350 of those are ACHA (American Collegiate Hockey Association) teams that don’t offer scholarships. When you’re a recruit for hockey you should begin with as large of a pool of colleges as you can to help ensure that the perfect fit rises to the top when the hockey recruiting process ends. Using NCSA’s digital space makes it easy to get your information to dozens of prospective colleges. Realize that the majority of college hockey teams aren’t in Division I. Nearly 90% of college hockey players compete at the ACHA, Division II, Division III, or junior college level.

5. It’s not a four-year decision. It’s a 40-year decision. Choosing a college is one of the most important decisions of your life. Do your research and make an educated decision, not only as a recruit for hockey, but also as a student athlete. Input from a neutral third party like NCSA can match you up with a school that’s an ideal fit for you during the four years that you are there.